Improvement in fire-kindlers



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WIEHLE AND CHRISTIAN FEUOHTER, OF IRONTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-KINDLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,554, dated April 7, 1874; application filed December 29, 1873.

7 To all whom it may concern:

' of the liquid, or all they are capable of absorbin g.

They are next dipped in melted rosin to form a coat impervious to air, and preventing the escape of the oil either by evaporation or dripping. VVhenthe rosin has dried sufliciently the pieces are wrapped in paper of any kind' flexible enough to answer the purpose. The object of this is to prevent the rosin causing the 'kindlers to adhere, when packed or piled one upon the other, as they would otherwise.

tend to do if exposed in awarm atmosphere; to enable the kindlers to be readily handled without sticking to the hands, fingers, or the mechanical implement used for the purpose; also to aid in i gniting the rosin, and prevent dripping when burning.

To ignite the kindler -it is only necessary to tear open the paper wrapper, when the edges thus formed readily communicate the flame to the body of the kindler.

The chief advantage of the use of cornstalks to form the body of the kindlers is the fact that they can be readily split at the end to adapt them to more quicklyignite, and also produce a larger flame. The stalk has, likewise, a larger heart or pith than the cob, and will hence absorb a larger quantity of petroleum, while the outer portion, being of such a nature as to absorb "cry little, will correspondingly prevent evaporation of the oil during the drying stage previous to applying the rosin. Another advantage lies in this, that the stalks may be used of almostany desired length. This especially adapts them for use as torches.

\Ve do not, of course, claim the application of rosin or petroleum to'vegetable products for the purpose of increasing their combustibility, and thus producing a new fuel.

What we claim is As a new article of manufacture and sale,

the fire-kindler and torch formed of corn-stalks,

orsections thereof, soaked in petroleum, coated 

